Project Lead, Army C5ISR RTI

The MITRE Corporation; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 162,000 - 244,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE is seeking a Project Leader in the Army Multi-Domain ISR Operations and Systems department to shape high-impact science and technology work programs for C5ISR Center RTI Directorate. The role involves direct engagement with sponsor decision-makers at Aberdeen Proving Ground and regular travel to support mission priorities.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years of related defense experience, expertise in RF, radar, EW, and sensor systems, and ability to lead cross-functional teams while

Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Experience leading technical efforts in RF, Radar, Electronic Warfare, or sensors; working knowledge of radar, communications, electromagnetic warfare, or related sensor systems.
• Experience with system integration and test in complex defense environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead engineering teams and build enduring sponsor relationships.
• Experience briefing senior government leaders.
• Ability to support frequent onsite engagement at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; candidates may be based in Aberdeen, McLean, or Bedford, with regular travel to Aberdeen required.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI.
• Must have an active Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government issued Security Clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days a week on-site.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with senior-level sponsors within C5ISR RTI and related stakeholder organizations, including regular in-person engagement at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
• Engage users and government sponsors to define problem statements, mission priorities, capability gaps, roadmaps, and transition plans.
• Define and lead fast-paced, high-impact work in areas such as sensor systems, airborne radar, counter-battery radar, integrated electromagnetic warfare tactics and effects, signal processing, RF systems, antennas, and electromagnetics.
• Guide support for field exercises, demonstrations, and sponsor engagements, including capturing results and driving technical closure of issues.
• Cultivate a collaborative project team environment and a robust network of MITRE reachback in support of project objectives.
• Manage project financials and execute MITRE business processes in support of project delivery.
• Perform ongoing work shaping to ensure MITRE continues to address high-impact sponsor challenges.
• Enable the sponsor’s mission through concise, impactful technical deliverables, briefings, reports, and executive-level recommendations.
• Collaborate internally with MITRE Project Leads, Department Management, and the Chief Engineer.
• Provide thought leadership and clear, timely, actionable recommendations grounded in a deep understanding of the sponsor’s mission.

Skills

RF Systems

Radar

Electronic Warfare

Sensor Systems

Leadership

Sponsor relationships

Communication

Education

MS in Engineering/CS/related field

Tools

Git/GitLab

Docker

CI/CD

DevSecOps

Agile methodologies

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

The Army Multi-Domain ISR Operations and Systems department, part of MITRE’s Army Program Division within MITRE National Security, advances the Army’s capabilities in intelligence collection, processing, actionable decision-making, and electromagnetic operations to enhance operational effectiveness and counter adversary systems.

The department supports the Army’s efforts to design, deliver, and sustain advanced technologies for multi-domain intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations across mission areas including Electronic Warfare, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), intelligence targeting systems, ISR sensors, assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), electromagnetic situational awareness, and non-kinetic effects.

This department works closely with Army acquisition, intelligence, operational, and science and technology communities, combining strong operational focus with deep technical expertise to help deliver superior intelligence capabilities and operational overmatch for Warfighters and decision-makers.

Job Description

The Army Multi-Domain ISR Operations and Systems department is seeking a Project Leader for its U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center Research and Technology Integration (RTI) Directorate project.

This role offers the opportunity to shape high-impact science and technology work programs, influence prototype efforts, and work directly with sponsor decision-makers on Army modernization priorities.

Success in this role requires building and maintaining a trusted relationship with the sponsor at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Frequent in-person engagement with the sponsor is essential.

MITRE provides the C5ISR Center with unique expertise to explore concepts and prototype capabilities aligned to Army modernization priorities. MITRE supports critical C5ISR programs that enhance warfighter lethality and survivability, including converged electronic warfare/cyber tactical architectures, electronic warfare hardware and software, advanced radar systems engineering and signal processing algorithm design, operational combat simulations, multifunction adaptive radio frequency technologies, Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) and counter-EO/IR solutions, and the integration of sensors and countermeasures into combat ground vehicles for improved survivability.

As a differentiated partner to the government in technical areas of national importance, MITRE brings expert FFRDC resources, including labs, modeling and simulation, analysis capabilities, and cross-disciplinary expertise, in support of the DoD and Intelligence Community.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with senior-level sponsors within C5ISR RTI and related stakeholder organizations, including regular in-person engagement at Aberdeen Proving Ground, typically averaging 1 to 2 days per week based on sponsor needs.

• Engage users and government sponsors to define problem statements, mission priorities, capability gaps, roadmaps, and transition plans.

• Define and lead fast-paced, high-impact work in areas such as sensor systems, airborne radar, counter-battery radar, integrated electromagnetic warfare tactics and effects, signal processing, RF systems, antennas, and electromagnetics.

• Guide support for field exercises, demonstrations, and sponsor engagements, including capturing results and driving technical closure of issues.

• Cultivate a collaborative project team environment and a robust network of MITRE reachback in support of project objectives.

• Manage project financials and execute MITRE business processes in support of project delivery.

• Perform ongoing work shaping to ensure MITRE continues to address high-impact sponsor challenges.

• Enable the sponsor’s mission through concise, impactful technical deliverables, briefings, reports, and executive-level recommendations.

• Collaborate internally with MITRE Project Leads, Department Management, and the Chief Engineer.

• Provide thought leadership and clear, timely, actionable recommendations grounded in a deep understanding of the sponsor’s mission.

Basic Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.

• Experience leading technical efforts in RF, Radar, Electronic Warfare, or sensors. Working knowledge of one or more of the following: radar, communications, electromagnetic warfare, or related sensor systems.

• Experience with system integration and test in complex defense environments.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to lead engineering teams and build enduring sponsor relationships.

• Experience briefing senior government leaders.

• Ability to support frequent onsite engagement at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Candidates may be based in Aberdeen, McLean, or Bedford, with regular travel to Aberdeen required.

• Active DoD Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI.

• Must have an active Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.

• This position requires a minimum of 3 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.

• Demonstrated experience in prototyping and hardware/software integration.

• Hands-on experience integrating and testing complex systems involving SDRs/RF components, embedded compute, networking, and mission software.

• Experience with modern software practices and tooling such as Git/GitLab, Docker, CI/CD, DevSecOps, and Agile methodologies.

• Strong grasp of systems engineering practices, including requirements decomposition, traceability, interface definition, and test planning.

• Demonstrated expertise troubleshooting across hardware, firmware, software, networking, and RF layers.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s)

Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s)

Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint

$162,400 - $203,000 - $243,600 Annual

Work Location Type

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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Benefits information may be found here (https://careers.mitre.org/us/en/benefits) .